Placement May Bring Discomfort But Halts Temptation
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33
First, proper placement is often preceded by a season of discomfort. The reason is simple: until your misery factor exceeds your fear factor, you won’t change. We prize security.
When a mother eagle wants her eaglets to learn how to fly, she begins to tear up the nest. She removes the animal fur to expose the briars and thorns. Suddenly, the nest isn’t such a comfortable place anymore, so the eaglets swiftly desire to stretch their wings and learn to soar. You’ll never fly if you’re too comfortable. You will never change that which you are willing to tolerate. God has a way of making us move out. It’s called discomfort.
The good news is that even when our external circumstances may be uncomfortable, Christ Himself has promised to be our internal, spiritual source of undiminishing comfort:
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
Second, proper placement prevents exposure to sinful situations and temptations, which will ultimately lead to more discomfort than what you may be experiencing now! If you will listen to and obey God’s voice, His glory will be your reward. Failing to do so may subject you to sinful situations and temptations.
The first words God spoke to Adam after he sinned referred to Adam’s location. “Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:9). Adam’s sin drove him out of the place specifically prepared for him.
Lot was the nephew of Abram, but he left his uncle and moved to Sodom. What was he doing living in Sodom? Lot saw an opportunity to get rich, but eventually he lost his wife in the process because he wasn’t where he was supposed to be.
Prayer:
Father, I know that I will have challenges and temptations in this world, even while I am led into the place that You have for me. Help me to trust in You during this time and depend on you to give me the strength to overcome temptation, knowing that You have gone before me and have overcome the world. Amen.
Share
